Written Answers Friday 5 November 2010

Scottish Executive

Business Rates

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3F-2634 by Alex Salmond on 7 October 2010 ( Official Report c. 29451), what the rateable values were of businesses that successfully appealed following the 2005 revaluation (a) before and (b) after they appealed.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3F-2634 by Alex Salmond on 7 October 2010 ( Official Report c. 29451), how many businesses successfully appealed following the 2005 rates revaluation and what proportion of all appeals this represents.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.

Firearms

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents involving (a) firearms and (b) air weapons have been recorded in each police force area in each of the last 10 years.

Kenny MacAskill: The following tables provide information on the number of firearm offences by main firearm recorded, for Scotland and by police force area, 2000-01 to 2009-10.

  Scotland

  

Main Firearm Used
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Shotgun
41 
23 
21 
16 
30 
57 
52 
41 
55 
31 


Rifle
7 
3 
8 
2 
8 
11 
16 
18 
12 
6 


Pistol/Revolver
110 
40 
30 
23 
24 
98 
75 
97 
137 
109 


Air Weapon
566 
404 
329 
436 
486 
618 
683 
575 
441 
426 


Imitation Firearm
54 
58 
143 
85 
72 
59 
118 
110 
79 
53 


Unidentified
150 
444 
484 
365 
418 
121 
175 
106 
86 
71 


Other
27 
32 
20 
30 
98 
104 
140 
196 
141 
143 


Total
955
1,004
1,035
957
1,136
1,068
1,259
1,143
951
839



  Note:

  These figures for Scotland are contained within Table 3 of the statistical bulletin "Recorded Crimes and Offences involving Firearms, Scotland, 2009-10" which was published on 26 October 2010, and is available via the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/10/25143316/0

  Central

  

Main Firearm Used
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Shotgun
3 
- 
1 
2 
- 
- 
1 
2 
1 
1 


Rifle
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
1 
- 
- 
- 


Pistol/Revolver
- 
- 
- 
1 
- 
1 
- 
- 
1 
- 


Air Weapon
37 
21 
11 
13 
26 
14 
14 
8 
13 
9 


Imitation Firearm
3 
2 
6 
- 
2 
1 
4 
- 
- 
2 


Unidentified
3 
8 
- 
- 
2 
1 
2 
2 
- 
- 


Other
10 
2 
4 
3 
5 
- 
3 
- 
3 
1 


Total
56
33
22
19
35
17
25
12
18
13



  Dumfries and Galloway

  

Main Firearm Used
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Shotgun
- 
2 
5 
2 
- 
2 
- 
- 
- 
1 


Rifle
1 
- 
2 
1 
- 
1 
1 
- 
2 
- 


Pistol/Revolver
- 
5 
3 
1 
2 
- 
- 
1 
- 
2 


Air Weapon
10 
34 
15 
14 
21 
10 
22 
20 
11 
13 


Imitation Firearm
3 
4 
9 
4 
1 
4 
4 
- 
2 
- 


Unidentified
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 


Other
- 
- 
- 
- 
1 
10 
- 
8 
11 
4 


Total
14
45
34
22
25
27
27
29
26
20



  Fife

  

Main Firearm Used
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Shotgun
2 
1 
- 
- 
1 
4 
1 
- 
1 
1 


Rifle
3 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
1 
1 
- 


Pistol/Revolver
1 
2 
5 
- 
- 
- 
3 
2 
2 
4 


Air Weapon
11 
24 
24 
12 
6 
6 
34 
23 
12 
36 


Imitation Firearm
2 
- 
4 
- 
- 
- 
1 
2 
2 
2 


Unidentified
- 
- 
- 
- 
4 
- 
- 
1 
3 
1 


Other
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
1 
3 
- 


Total
19
27
33
12
11
10
39
30
24
44



  Grampian

  

Main Firearm Used
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Shotgun
6 
2 
1 
2 
5 
2 
1 
- 
- 
- 


Rifle
2 
- 
- 
1 
- 
5 
1 
1 
- 
2 


Pistol/Revolver
3 
5 
5 
11 
2 
2 
- 
1 
3 
3 


Air Weapon
49 
55 
50 
12 
12 
14 
44 
12 
6 
4 


Imitation Firearm
2 
- 
7 
2 
3 
1 
3 
2 
4 
- 


Unidentified
1 
1 
7 
7 
6 
10 
2 
20 
12 
6 


Other
5 
9 
4 
6 
5 
4 
- 
8 
1 
- 


Total
68
72
74
41
33
38
51
44
26
15



  Lothian and Borders

  

Main Firearm Used
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Shotgun
3 
- 
3 
4 
5 
10 
11 
3 
15 
9 


Rifle
- 
1 
4 
- 
4 
1 
2 
1 
6 
- 


Pistol/Revolver
12 
7 
8 
5 
7 
11 
5 
8 
23 
13 


Air Weapon
150 
103 
121 
261 
308 
244 
176 
139 
150 
130 


Imitation Firearm
5 
6 
14 
11 
14 
27 
28 
38 
18 
12 


Unidentified
47 
85 
143 
35 
24 
67 
31 
13 
21 
17 


Other
5 
12 
4 
12 
45 
58 
62 
78 
62 
83 


Total
222
214
297
328
407
418
315
280
295
264



  Northern

  

Main Firearm Used
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Shotgun
- 
- 
- 
- 
1 
3 
2 
- 
3 
- 


Rifle
- 
- 
1 
- 
- 
- 
3 
3 
- 
2 


Pistol/Revolver
- 
- 
- 
- 
1 
5 
- 
- 
7 
- 


Air Weapon
- 
5 
- 
- 
- 
1 
7 
27 
13 
21 


Imitation Firearm
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
7 
7 
- 


Unidentified
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
3 
1 
- 
- 


Other
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
2 
1 
4 
3 
- 


Total
0
5
1
0
2
11
16
42
33
23



  Strathclyde

  

Main Firearm Used
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Shotgun
27 
17 
9 
5 
18 
32 
35 
31 
30 
14 


Rifle
1 
2 
1 
- 
3 
4 
7 
- 
1 
2 


Pistol/Revolver
94 
21 
9 
4 
11 
79 
64 
75 
90 
87 


Air Weapon
273 
93 
70 
70 
76 
293 
363 
322 
207 
196 


Imitation Firearm
32 
42 
98 
56 
50 
23 
72 
55 
43 
36 


Unidentified
88 
348 
331 
315 
367 
42 
132 
65 
48 
44 


Other
7 
8 
2 
2 
6 
1 
18 
33 
26 
25 


Total
522
531
520
452
531
474
691
581
445
404



  Tayside

  

Main Firearm Used
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Shotgun
- 
1 
2 
1 
- 
4 
1 
5 
5 
5 


Rifle
- 
- 
- 
- 
1 
- 
1 
12 
2 
- 


Pistol/Revolver
- 
- 
- 
1 
1 
- 
3 
10 
11 
- 


Air Weapon
36 
69 
38 
54 
37 
36 
23 
24 
29 
17 


Imitation Firearm
7 
4 
5 
12 
2 
3 
6 
6 
3 
1 


Unidentified
11 
2 
3 
8 
15 
1 
5 
4 
2 
3 


Other
- 
1 
6 
7 
36 
29 
56 
64 
32 
30 


Total
54
77
54
83
92
73
95
125
84
56



  Notes:

  1. There have been a number of changes in police recording practices since 2005-06, along with a clarification of the scope of the firearms return (see Annex 5.15 to 5.19 of the above named publication).

  2. Changes to the way in which the type of main firearm used is recorded by the police have impacted upon the number of air weapons and unidentified weapons reported (see Annex 5.15 of the above named publication). From 2005-06 onwards, all police forces agreed to identify weapons where possible, resulting in an increase in the alleged use of air weapons (and other identified weapons) and a decrease in the alleged use of unidentified firearms. Furthermore, from 2006-07 onwards, all police forces were asked to include incidents involving air weapons where no injury or damage was caused. It is thought this has increased the number of recorded offences involving air weapons.

  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

Higher Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33658 by Michael Russell on 1 June 2010 and publication of the report, Securing a Sustainable Future for Higher Education , whether it remains its position that it has no plans for an independent review of tertiary education funding in Scotland.

Michael Russell: Yes.

Interpreters

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many interpreters have been engaged by each of its directorates and agencies in each of the last three years.

John Swinney: Prior to October 2009 information relating to the use of interpreters was not held centrally. A framework contract was introduced from October 2009 for the provision of interpreting, translation and transcription across the central government sector. Information from October 2009 onwards is not available by directorate and is recorded in terms of the numbers of assignments undertaken as contained in the following table. Zero assignments were recorded for the core Scottish Government.

  

Month
Scottish Court Service
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Scottish Prison Service
Historic Scotland
Accountant in Bankruptcy
Totals


October 2009
548
130
11
1
0
690


November 2009
600
51
7
1
0
659


December 2009
375
20
8
2
0
405


January 2010
337
20
0
0
0
357


February 2010
774
28
17
0
0
819


March 2010
1,009
7
10
3
0
1,029


April 2010
860
32
17
0
0
909


May 2010
1,090
55
16
0
0
1,161


June 2010
607
67
18
1
0
693


July 2010
659
7
26
1
0
693


August 2010
774
7
13
1
1
796


September 2010
800
80
12
0
0
892


Total Number of Assignments
8,433
504
155
10
1
9,103



  The length of an assignment can vary widely, ranging from a few minutes right up to several months.

Police

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many recruits have been trained at the Scottish Police College in each month since 2000.

Kenny MacAskill: Courses at the Scottish Police College do not run on a month by month basis and the Scottish Government does not hold figures for the number of probationers trained in each month. The following table shows the total number of probationers trained each year since 2000 at the college:

  

Year
Number of Students


2000
1,035


2001
731


2002
761


2003
990


2004
1,009


2005
875


2006
742


2007
682


2008
1,673


2009
1,261


2010
326



  The figure for 2010 only reflects students trained on courses beginning before July 2010. Students who have completed their initial training return to the college for a reconvention course after approximately 12 months service with their force. These returning students are not reflected in figures in the table.

Police

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total capacity for training recruits at the Scottish Police College has been in each month since 2000.

Kenny MacAskill: Courses at the Scottish Police College do not run on a month by month basis and the Scottish Government does not hold information on the college’s total capacity for training recruits each month. For most of the period 2003 until April 2010 the Scottish Police College’s maximum capacity was 96 students per 15 week course. In January 2008 the Scottish Government provided additional funding to enable the college to temporarily increase its capacity to 197 students per course, as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver an additional 1,000 police officers in Scotland's communities.

  In April 2010 the current 13 week course was introduced, raising the permanent maximum capacity of the college to 120 students per course.

  The Scottish Government does not hold figures for the capacity of the police college prior to 2003.